PROTOCOL OF SCHOOL LIFE

Our school adopts a global instructional system which aspires to build a balanced and believing individual, well-equipped with the knowledge and education needed to pass the official examinations and to succeed in the community. Therefore, in order to achieve our aim, it is necessary to provide the learner with security and reassurance within an orderly environment where he/she feels apt to succeed. On the other hand, our basic educational goal is not only to teach our learners the right to make responsible decisions and choices, but also to build team-work spirit in individuals who will excel in society. As we aim to have disciplined individuals, the learners are invited to discuss this “Protocol” with their “Class Advisor” and then sign it themselves as well as their parents at the beginning of the scholastic year.

Moreover, our school believes in building healthy rapport between parents and administration, based on cooperation and interaction between them. Thus, both adults and young learners must respect the protocol of school life set by the school.

I- Time-table and Absences

•  All classes start at 7:30 a.m.

•  Preschool classes end at 13:15

•  Elementary classes end at 14:45

•  Intermediate and Secondary classes end at 15:40 .

•  Punctuality is very important. Hence, learners are required to arrive to class on time and not to leave school during the day unless they have a written permission. It is of great importance that a learner does not miss any lesson or even any part of a lesson.

•  At all levels, learners must attend all classes. In some exceptional cases the Principal authorizes specific exemptions.

•  Parents are asked to cooperate with the School Administration. All absences should be justified. Any absence of two or more consecutive days requires a medical report or a special permission. A learner suffering from a contagious disease is not allowed into class before complete recovery and must show a written medical report.

•  Any unjustified absence on the day of a test entails the loss of the test grade and the right of the learner for a make-up (starting Grade 6). If the learner shows a medical report justifying the absence, the Head of Division is then entitled to take the appropriate measures.

•  During recesses, all learners are expected to leave the classroom. An authorization from the Head of Division is needed to allow the learner to stay in class.

II- Cleanliness and the School Uniform

•  Uniformity and neatness are strongly recommended. Therefore, wearing the school uniform is compulsory.

•  Learners are strongly advised not to wear expensive and/or indiscrete jewelry or carry large amounts of money. The school is not responsible for any losses of that kind.

•  Girls will be allowed to wear discrete make-up only in the Secondary Division. Part of being well dressed is to use subtle and proper make-up.

•  Learners are invited to wear shiny shoes (not sandals) throughout the week except for sports classes, whereby they wear sports shoes. They should have socks on at all times.

•  Learners must keep the school premises and the buses clean.

•  Learners are expected to have short nails, and well-groomed hair. This means that hair dying and the use of hair gel or other products is not allowed.

III- Common Property Regulations

The school tries to ensure the well-being and comfort of its learners. Hence, learners are expected to take care of school property and they will be held financially responsible for any damage they cause.

IV- General Behavior

•  In order to be able to work efficiently and use class time constructively, the learners are expected to bring to class the required books, assignments and needed materials.

•  Learners are expected to share love and respect with each other and with all the staff regardless of rank or position.

•  The learner's behavior reflects his/her school, home and environment. As our learners come from families who seek proper education for their children, the violation of the rules and regulations will result in corrective measures.

•  At school, learners live in the heart of one big family. The Administration wishes to build harmony among its learners and guarantee their safety. Therefore, in order to avoid hurting themselves or each other, learners are not allowed to bring harmful objects to school (penknives, needles, glass containers, matches, etc.) Furthermore, any publication related to politics or to any issue diverging from ethical values should not be dealt with at school.

•  The school premises are considered a smoking-free area. The purpose behind this is to safeguard learners' good health and enhance their good habits.

•  The terms of this protocol are applicable during daily bus trips. Learners will follow the drivers and /or teachers safety and disciplinary instructions and avoid any harmful behavior.

•  The school provides, when needed, the necessary contact with parents. This is why learners are not allowed to have cellular phones, except in some particular cases after obtaining the approval of the HOD.

V- Sports and General Activities

•  Sport is a necessity for growth and health-building. Therefore, learners who are not able to participate in sports activities are requested to have a medical report.

•  The Administration will inform the parents ahead of time about all activities that take place after school hours or outside the school. Parents' written approval is a must for the participation of their children in any such activities.

  VI- Parents - Teachers Relationship

•  Parents meet with the Head of the Division according to a schedule they receive at the beginning of the academic year.

•  Parents can meet the teachers only through the Head of Division and according to previous notice. Any direct contact between parents and teachers or staff, without the consent of the Head of Division is not considered in the line of school policy or the learner's benefit. Hence, the school disapproves such contacts.

•  Parents are expected not to escort learners to their classes, since parents' presence could disturb the educational pace of the class.

•  Administration and Heads of Divisions may appoint a scheduled meeting with parents, regarding the academic or disciplinary performance of any learner.

•  Keeping in mind our educational concern for equity, learners are not allowed to bring gifts to any member of the faculty or staff.

VII- Parents' Role

•  When invited, parents are required to attend all meetings held to discuss issues related to their children.

•  Parents are asked to seriously consider the letters sent to them by the school.

•  Parents should notify the Head of Division when their children are receiving private tutoring at home.

•  Parents are invited to follow closely and regularly their children's performance by signing their test and/or quiz papers and their child's agenda on daily basis. They are kindly requested to carefully read all the remarks that accompany grades.

•  Parents may find out, on a daily basis, about their children's activities, and follow their performance (Results, Calendars, Agenda…) at the following web portal: “ www.educalys.edu.lb ”.

VIII- Safety and Security

•  For the safety and security of their children , parents are requested to notify in writing the Head of Division in the following cases :

a - If the learner is expected to leave the school before the end of classes.

b -If the learner is expected to leave the school with a person other than his/her parents.

c - If the learner is expected not to use the school bus for an exceptional reason.

d - If the learner who uses the school bus is expected not to return home directly after the school hours.

e - In any other exceptional case.

In all these cases, parents should write clear instructions and formulate the measures they want the school to take accordingly.

•  At the end of classes, learners who do not take school buses are requested to return home directly, in order to avoid any encounter outside school or the purchasing of any product . Infractions may lead to disciplinary measures that could reach expulsion from school.

•  Parents will refrain, in the morning, from sending to school any child feeling sick.

•  Parents are requested to fill a complete “Data Sheet” that contains all necessary information for emergency cases. If a learner suffers from physical or psychological impairment, parents should notify the school so that the required care may be properly provided.

•  The school cannot impose the use of the school buses, but strongly recommends parents to check on the safety measures taken by private busing systems.

IX- Financial Matters

Our school is a non-profit institution, affiliated with the Church, and carrying out a high educational mission. Therefore, we urge parents to inform the Principal of any financial difficulty that might hinder paying the tuition fees. The request is to be sent, in writing, before October 31 st for SMOC and ETD. The school would also appreciate any financial aid that well-to-do (financially capable) families can offer to assist needy learners, bearing in mind the following points:

•  The Administration decides on tuition fees in agreement with the Parents' Committee taking into consideration the cost of living, the prevailing laws and the necessity of the ongoing school development.

•  Tuition fees are paid in three installments, one due before September 15, the second before December 15 and the third in before March 15.

•  It is your right to ask to pay the tuition fees in 11 installments from July till June of the next year. In this case you will be issued payment slips and the settlement of the installment payments will be done at the bank.

•  At any time of the scholastic year, you may ask for a detailed statement of account to be requested and retrieved through a learner or a family member.

•  If you wish to pay at the bank, please make sure that you have the payment slip, not the invoice, since a duly stamped payment slip is considered as a receipt. If you have chosen to pay by monthly installments, please make sure to use the payment slips by ascending order. When Paying at the bank, issue your checks in the name of the bank to the account of the school.

•  If you wish to pay at the school, please make sure that you have the payment slip (not the invoice) since a duly stamped payment slip is considered as a receipt. If you have chosen to pay by monthly installments, please make sure to use the payment slips by ascending order. At the school, make all checks payable to the school.

•  Fees for school supplies, book rental, and miscellaneous expenses are to be paid in September.

•  Transportation fees are expected to be paid in three installments and are non-refundable.

X- Academic Rules

  •  In order to be promoted, a learner must have a performance which verifies the promotion criteria of his/her class communicated at the beginning of the year.

•  As stated by the law of the Ministry of Education, a learner may not repeat the same class level more than once.

•  In accordance with the law of the Ministry of Education, any learner who is absent for 20% of the total number of the school days is not allowed to sit for the final examinations.

•  Any learner who receives three “Warnings” faces a “Disciplinary Council” and could be expelled from school even if he/she meets academic promotion requirements.

•  Parents should sign the learner's Report Card and return it within a week.

  XI-Disciplinary Matters

Within the frame of the holistic education adopted by our school, we aim at building a well-balanced person especially in the social and communicative aspects of the character. And since positive behavior is a way of expressing a cooperative and responsible presence, we train our learners to correct their misconduct. This is how they would acquire the proper habits resulting from an aware conviction making them obedient and responsible. These habits, which are closely linked to the interdisciplinary skills project, are part of a training program that the educational and administrative teams in our school work on achieving, taking into consideration the age group characteristics and the individual qualities of each learner.

Respecting the time schedule adopted to train the learners in the Preschool and Elementary levels is necessary to create an educational balance between the process of training and that of accountability.

Regulations are thus essential, and abiding by them is a must. Our approach to disciplinary matters is simple and tangible so that the learner can evaluate his/ her behavior by him/herself in a concrete manner and according to the level adopted with regards to school regulations: At the beginning of the year, every learner will have in his/her account a certain number of points which varies according to the Division and age group. The learner is asked to keep the highest number of points possible until the end of the year by complying with the school rules and regulations.

The learner can add points to his/ her account when he/she performs an unusual positive act. Learners having earned the highest number of points will be rewarded at the end of the year.

On the other hand, any misbehavior or infraction to the rules will cause the learner to lose a certain number of points depending on the deed. The learner will be advised to correct his/her behavior. The recurrence of the same misbehavior will lead to deducting double the number of points. An average number of points is determined for every Division. When the learner reaches this number, he/ she will be given an official warning. In case his/ her account reaches the minimum specified for every Division, the learner will be referred to the Disciplinary Council. In case the learner loses all his points, he will be suspended from attending school for the rest of the year.